Sharon

Henry is 10 and had asthma since he was 4. Viral illness triggers his asthma easily, which can, without starting inhalers develop into a chest infection. He’s often treated with antibiotics and Sharon has explored improving his health with alternative medicine.

Sharon’s son Henry developed asthma at the age of four. He was hospitalized with pneumonia and although not given asthma diagnosis as such, he was prescribed asthma inhalers and put under the care of an asthma nurse. Henry has never had a full-blown asthma attack and his symptoms are only triggered by having the cold, flu or chest infection or hay fever.

Henry tends to be ill with a flu-like-illness a couple of times a year. Sharon explains that at the first sign of illness, Henry starts his blue Ventolin inhaler. Most of the time this is enough to prevent the illness from progressing to anything more than a cold. When he does develop a flu-like-illness he typically has high temperature, shallow breathing and he will cough up phlegm. His condition can deteriorate very quickly and wheeziness is a sign that he’s getting worse. If symptoms won’t ease off after the first three days with inhalers and home management, Sharon sees her GP or the out-hours doctor who almost always treat him with antibiotics (Amoxicillin). Sharon says she is worried about whether Henry has had antibiotics too often and if he could develop resistance to antibiotics in the future.

As Henry has gotten older, he is more able to describe to his parents how he is feeling. Sharon uses a scale of 1-10 for him to explain how ill he is feeling. Sharon says the biggest impact of Henry being ill has been on school. Having to miss school because of illness, as well as appointments, has increased pressure from his primary school and had a negative effect on Henry. Sharon says Primary schools aren’t always very understanding of the fact that some children simply do get more ill, and more frequently than others.

Because of his early hospital experiences, Henry developed a fear of needles, which made taking blood tests and giving vaccinations very challenging and made him anxious. The flu-vaccine becoming available as a nasal spray has made it easier for him to have it now. Sharon says she wants to try and minimize Henry’s intake of medications, as well as the additives in his diet or unnecessary toxins. She has found help in aromatherapy and homeopathy for managing colds but says her daughter responds to them better than her son. She also gives Henry probiotics daily to try and replenish the good bacteria in the body.

After getting a reaction to the injection, Henry didn’t have the flu vaccine for a couple of years but now the nasal spray is available he has started having it again.

Age at interview 44

Gender Female

When her son’s primary school started giving her negative feedback about his low attendance, Sharon asked her GP to print out a list of Henry’s appointments and the reason for each one.

Age at interview 44

Gender Female

Henry has asthma. Sharon says she now feels more confident in the way that she manages his flu-like illness at home.

Age at interview 44

Gender Female

Sharon will make an appointment with the out of hours hospital based GP service via 111 if she thinks Henry is deteriorating and he cannot wait until the next day to see his own GP. She would prefer to speak to a doctor on the phone.

Age at interview 44

Gender Female

Henry sometimes has diarrhoea when he takes antibiotics. His GP advised that the antibiotics are still working despite the diarrhoea and to complete the course.

Age at interview 44

Gender Female

Sharon only uses trusted websites. She finds charity websites, NHS Direct and BUPA websites helpful for information about her son’s symptoms.

Age at interview 44

Gender Female